PDLP Chapter 83: Zhou Minghui Temporarily Retreats, the Old Case is Settled, Lin Bei Embarks on a New Jou
Chapter 83: Zhou Minghui Temporarily Retreats, the Old Case is Settled, Lin Bei Embarks on a New Jou
After hearing Su Qianqian's words, Lin Bei leaned back in his chair and frowned slightly.
gone?
Why did Zhou Minghui suddenly leave?
This is completely out of character for him!
Although Lin Bei and Zhou Minghui haven't had much contact, they should be able to guess each other's character through a simple understanding.
He doesn't seem like the type of person who would give up after just one simple attempt.
That's why Lin Bei sent a text message to Boss Wu this morning, asking him to strengthen quality control.
This was to guard against Zhou Minghui's next, even more ferocious, offensive.
However, the other party suddenly withdrew.
This is like Lin Bei already getting into position, ready to receive a combination of punches.
But the opponent turned and left.
"I originally thought he would try to sabotage me again." Lin Bei picked up the glass of cold water on the table and took a sip. "The Industry and Commerce Bureau just came to inspect my shop, but they didn't find any problems."
"Given his personality, he shouldn't give up so easily."
Su Qianqian said, "It seems his father has some urgent business. Zhou's Industrial is currently negotiating a merger and acquisition, and he may need to go back to sign off on it."
Lin Bei then realized that Zhou Minghui hadn't given up; he just didn't have time to deal with this matter for the time being.
Su Qianqian paused for a moment, then added, "No matter what, this whole thing started because of me."
"It has nothing to do with you." Lin Bei put down his cup and said calmly, "The reason he retaliated against me is entirely because he thinks you should be his girlfriend."
"But you didn't give him that opportunity, so he needed an outlet."
"Even without me, he would find another reason."
Su Qianqian was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No need," Lin Bei said with a smile. "It's good that he's gone. I can finally have a few days of peace and quiet and focus on the shop."
"I'll have everything ready for his next visit."
Su Qianqian hummed in agreement.
Then, the two chatted for a few more minutes about everyday things.
Su Qianqian's tone gradually returned to its usual composure.
Before hanging up, she added, "Please contact me anytime if you need anything."
Lin Bei placed his phone on the table, sipped his tea, and fell into deep thought.
……
After Zhou Minghui left,
Lin Bei's days finally had a few days of peace.
The notification letter was neatly placed in the desk drawer, and the online store was on the right track, with daily orders stabilizing at over 500, and the notification sounds from the backend ringing from morning till night.
His daily routine is very regular now.
I process orders in the morning, practice driving at the driving school in the afternoon, and come back in the evening to discuss inventory and adjust styles with Boss Wu.
Life goes on like a pendulum, regular and steady.
However, during this period, Chen Junrong's parents came twice more.
The first time was before the verdict was handed down.
Chen's mother, carrying two boxes of donkey-hide gelatin cakes, sat on the Lin family's sofa and cried for almost half an hour.
"Junrong lost his grandfather when he was young and we spoiled him."
"Please, Lin Bei, for the sake of our classmate relationship, show some leniency."
Her tone was humble and pitiful, and she wasted half a roll of toilet paper with her tears.
Lin Bei sat opposite Chen's mother, listening to her finish speaking with a blank expression.
Then, he only asked one question: "When he brought six men and blocked my way with steel pipes, did he ever consider showing mercy?"
"Like I said, we're all adults now, so we have to be responsible for our actions."
Chen's parents couldn't answer, and left with the donkey-hide gelatin cake.
The second time was a few days before the court hearing, when Chen's father came alone.
He didn't bring any gifts, and as soon as he came in, he said, "I know Junrong made a mistake, but seven years is too much. Could you please give me a letter of understanding?"
"Even if it's just for one year, that's fine."
Lin Bei looked at him without saying a word.
Mr. Chen stood at the door for a moment, then turned and went downstairs, his footsteps lingering in the stairwell for a long time.
……
The court's judgment was posted on the bulletin board outside the courthouse on a Friday afternoon.
Chen Junrong, armed robbery, principal offender, sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
The other five individuals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to five years.
Lin Bei didn't go on the day of the sentencing, but Lao Gao did, and afterwards he vividly described it to him.
Chen Junrong stood in the dock, wearing the yellow vest of the detention center, his hair shaved into a buzz cut. His legs went weak when he heard the verdict.
It was the bailiffs who grabbed his arms and dragged him out.
However, he shouted in the corridor, "Lin Bei, you wait here."
Before he could finish speaking, he was shoved into a police car.
When Lao Gao said these things, there was no schadenfreude in his tone, but rather a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection).
After all, back then at the KTV, there was that young master Chen who was treating everyone in a suit.
I never imagined that one day I would become a prisoner in a detention center.
The news quickly spread throughout the high school.
The homeroom teacher posted a long message in the grade group chat, his tone somber, saying, "This is the most heartbreaking class I have ever taught, and I hope all students will take this as a warning."
Some busybodies took a picture of the judgment and posted it on QQ Space, where it was forwarded over 500 times in one day.
In the comments section, some people said "he deserved it," while others said "poor thing."
Some people even brought up the incident where Chen Junrong was doused with baijiu by Lin Bei at the farewell party, saying, "This is what happens when you mess with the wrong person."
The matter escalated over several days.
A local newspaper even published a tiny news article in its social news section, titled: "College graduate gathers young people from the community for armed robbery and is sentenced to seven years in prison."
The text did not mention Lin Bei's name; it only stated "the victim, Lin Mou".
But those who know Lin Bei know who Lin is.
Chen Junrong's reputation is completely ruined.
Even if he gets out seven years later, with a robbery record and his university enrollment revoked, his life will basically start from scratch.
The title "Young Master Chen," which he was once so proud of, now only evokes irony.
Time flies, and another week has passed.
Lin Bei got his driver's license.
On the day of the exam, he got up at five o'clock in the morning and took the driving school bus to the vehicle management office.
When it was his turn to take the road test (Part 3), it was just past 10 a.m., the sun was blazing, and the air conditioning in the test vehicle was practically useless.
After getting in the car, he adjusted his seat, fastened his seatbelt, turned on the left turn signal, and started driving...
The whole movement was smooth and fluid. When parking on the side of the road, the car was exactly 30 centimeters away from the curb, not a centimeter off.
The computer-based driving test (Part 4) was a piece of cake; I got all the questions right after going through the question bank twice.
When he came out of the vehicle management office, he had a small brown booklet in his hand.
Lin Bei stood by the roadside for a moment, flipped open his driver's license and looked at the photo inside, which was several shades darker from the sun.
In the month or so he spent learning to drive, he went from a fair-skinned high school graduate to a dark-skinned college-bound young man, with a clear tan line on his arm from the cuff of his T-shirt.
Lin Bei put his driver's license in his pocket and bought an iced Coke from the vending machine at the entrance of the vehicle management office.
He unscrewed the cap and poured half a bottle down his throat, then pressed the bottle against his forehead to cool it down.
Then, they quickly left the place.